TheDebunkersSeries-Book1

PREVIEW-FIRSTFIVECHAPTERS

AlfredBoudry|JulieMornelli©AlfredBoudry-JulieMornelli2016-AllRightsReserved

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CoverdesignbyJulieMornelli

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SightUnseen

Contents

Outoftheblue,intothenight.

Outofthewoods.

Butseriously,mate!

What'sgottenintome.

Aglimpseofthepast.

Notes.

Abouttheauthors.

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CHAPTER1.OUTOFTHEBLUE,INTOTHENIGHT

From:BeamerTo:Emily

Hey,Sunshine,

Iknowyousaidyouwantedsometimeoff:timeawayfromme,fromthebusiness,fromeverythingingeneral.BelievemewhenIsayIamtryingtogiveyouthespaceyousoobviouslyneed,butreally,thisisnotworking.Iamokaywithtakingcareofyourbusinesswhileyou’re,asyousonicelyputit,"exploringanewdimensionwithinyourself,"whateverthatmeans.Butyoucan’tleavemeholdingthebagwithoutatleasttellingmewhat’sinit.I’vegotpeoplecalling,youknow,andIsoundlikeanassbecauseIdon’tknowwhattotellthem.

Iamnotafieldguy.I’madigger.Idobestbymyself,one-on-onewithacomputerscreen,endlesslysearching,tracking,unearthing,intherelativesafetyofthedigitalrealm.Why,then,youpickedme,ofallpeople,toreplaceyou,thequintessentialreal-life,real-worldinvestigator,isbeyondme.

IwishIhadpaidmoreattentiontowhatitisthatyoudo,ordid.MaybeIwouldhavelearnedsomethinguseful,forachange.Idorememberhowyousaid,"Peoplewhocometomealwaysswiminmurkywaters.Iftheircaseissimple,theydon’tneedme."

Talkingaboutthat..

MeetMs.EleonoreEdelmann,whopreferstobecalledNellie.Mid-to-latetwenties.Ahottiebyallstandards,butunawareofit,orpretendingtobe.Soft-spoken,mild-mannered,yetIcouldn’tshakethefeelingof,howshouldIsay,guardedaloofness.Your"murkywaters,"Iguess,onlyhersmustbecoldasice.Duringtheentireconversation,Icouldn’tgetareadonher.Iamnotyou.Thenagain,webothknowthat.

Shecalledmelastweek,andImetherattheStarbuckson14thandPark,justoffUnionSquare.Ishowedupearly,andshewasalreadythere.Ihadnotroublespottingher,thegirlinagrayhoodiesweaterwitharedbirdonthefront,justasshedescribedherself.

Shewentstraighttothepointandhandedmeafolder."Iwantyoutofindoutwhathappened.Oratleast,providemewithasubstantiated,plausibleexplanation."

Init,verylittle:acoupleofpagesfromanold,FrenchnewspaperandalistofURLsformeto

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lookatlater."Thisisprettymuchallthereis,"shesaid."Youmayhavetogothereinperson.Ofcourse,I’llpayyourfeeandexpenses."Shepulledoutherwallet,thickandfat,andhandedmeastackofhundreds.Thisgirlisloaded.She’salsocareless,orfoolish,orboth:commonsenserule,neverhandoutcashtoastrangerinapublicplace.Fortunately,noonewaspayingattentiontous.

Ilookedoverthenewspaperarticlequickly.MyFrenchisabitrusty,butIgotthegistofit:about30-oddyearsagoonChristmasEve,afamilyoffourvanishedintothinairfromasmallvillagenearCognac,inCharentes.Despiteanextensivesearchandapurportedlengthy,thoroughinvestigation,thepolicecameupempty;theyfoundabsolutelynothing.Notrace,noclue,nowitness,noexplanationwhatsoever,notevenashadowofaspeculativetheory.Nada.

IaskedNellie–Ms.Edelmann–whatherinterestwasinthiscase."DoIneedoneforyoutotakethecase?Here’sone:I’dliketobuytheirhouse,andIwanttoknowwhathappenedtoitsowners.Here’sanotherone:I’mawriterforastudio,andIamlookingforastoryline."Allthat,verymatter-of-fact,sheremainedcoolandcollectedwhilestaringatmestraightintheeyesasiftosay,"Whythefuckdoyoucare,aslongasIampayingyou?"

SoItookthecase.

AndnowIamsorryforit.

BecauseIdon’tknowwheretostart.

Sureenough,IcheckedouttheURLlinksshegaveme.Notmuchthere.Threads,nomore.SoIdidresearchofmyownandfoundmorebitsandpiecesofinformationhereandthere.Itreallydoesnotamounttoalot(thefactthatthisissuchanoldcasedoesnothelp;whocaresaboutanunsolvedmysteryfromlastcenturyinaworldwherelastweek’snewsisconsideredold?),butwithabitofcross-checking,here’swhatIhavemanagedtoestablish:

OnChristmasEve,1983,theChaudiersfamily(husbandAlain,wifePaula,andtheirtwokids,Frédéric,eight,andCharles,three)lefttheirhomeinLeBouquetvillagetohavedinnerwiththeirfriends,theLaniers,inasuburboutsideofSaint-Laurent-de-Cognac.Itwas,bytheLaniers’account,whoarethelastpersonsonrecordtoseethemalive,apleasantdinner;everybodywasinafestivemood,nothingoutoftheordinary,exceptmaybeforAlain,whoseemed,attimes,moodierthanusual.Butthatcouldbeinterpretationafterthefacts,fromtheLaniers’standpoint.TheChaudiersleftaround2:00am,nevertobeseenorheardagain.

EricChaudier,Alain’sbrother,alertedthepoliceonJanuary2nd,1984,surprisedandworriedthathehadn’theardfromhisbrotherindays.AlainalwayscalledhisyoungerbrothertowishhimahappyNewYear.ThesceneatLeBouquetwasaneerieone:nothinghadbeentouched.It

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lookedliketheownershadjustleft,andwouldbebackanytimenow.Thegiftslay,allwrapped,underthedecoratedtree,itslightsstilltwinkling.Atraditionalholidayfareofoysters,turkey,andchilledchampagnewaitedinthefridge.Checkbooks,jewelry,IDs,clothes,smallchange..everythingwasstillthere.Thepolicedeclareditwasasafeassumptionthattheyleftwitheveryintenttocomeback,yetnevermadeitbackhome.

Anintensesearchpartywaslaunched,lastingseveraldays.Riversweredredged.Diversdove,dogssniffed,searchersscouredeverybush,field,farmorforest,hikingtrails,refuges,riverbanks,anythingthatcouldyieldaclueonatwenty-mileradius.Whatdidtheyfind?Nothing.Bodieswereneverrecovered.Thecarwasneverretrieved.Nothingturnedup,notevenafootprint,ascarf,aletter,ahairstrand.TheChaudiershadplainlyevaporated,sightunseen,intothedarkofnightonChristmasEve.

Theinvestigationraisedseveralquestionsthatremainunansweredtothisday.Fromtheoutside,theChaudierslookedlikeanordinary,trouble-freecouple.YouandIknowthatthereisnosuchthingasatrouble-freerelationship,butasfarasordinarygoes,theywererightonthemoney.

Thewifewasunhappy;shewascarryingonanaffairwithherkid’sschoolteacher;thehusbandwasdistraughtovertheaffair,andthey’dbeenarguinglately.PaulahadindeedmentionedtheD.word.

Basically,JoeandJaneAverageinalltheirboring,predictable,white-picketfenceglory,àlamodefrançaise.

EricChaudierreportedthathisbrotheroncetoldhimthatifPaulaeverlefthim,therewouldbedrama.Paula’slover(whohadarock-solidalibiatthetimeoftheirdisappearance)confirmedPaulaintendedtoleaveAlainbutthathehadnothingtodowithherdecision.Theywerejust"passingtime,"ishowhedescribedtheirrelationship.Nicechoiceofwords,moreelegantthan"Wewerejustscrewing"..thoughtheendresultisthesame,isn’tit?Anyway..

Financially,theyweredoingwell,thoughnothingspectacular.Theybothhadjobs.PaulawasanaccountantforalocalCognacwineproducer.Alainhadhisownbusinessandwasmakingadecentlivingasahousecontractor.Hedidn’tseemtobestrappedforcash,butthenagain,appearancescanbedeceptive,andwebothknowthattheconstructionbusinessisaprimeopportunityfortheblackmarketeconomy.Thoughverylittlemoneywasfoundinthehouse.

Thecaseisstillopen.Periodically,anewinquirystarts,usuallypromptedbythediscoveryofbonefragments,ortheremnantsofacar.Alldeadends,sofar.Thelatestdevelopmentdatesbacktwoyears,whenahikerfoundapieceofskullandacoupleoftornribsunderatreeinaverydampforest,nottoofarfromariverbend.Thecoronerestablishedthebonesbelongedtoaman

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inhisthirtiesorforties,andthattheremainsareaboutthirtyyearsold,giveortake.DNAtestingprovedinconclusive:theofficialreportsaysthatwhilesomemarkersarepresenttoincludethepossibilitythatthesecouldbelongtoAlainChaudier,DNAhasdegradedtoapointwhereformalidentificationisimpossible.Notverysurprising,inmyopinion;exposuretoheat,cold,andwater,alongwithage,areallfactorsknowntohopelesslydegradeDNAsamples.

Ofcourse,Iamsupposedtosolvethisthirty-year-oldriddle,wheneveryoneelsehasfailed.

Iamcompletelyclueless.I’mafraidthescenariosIcameupwitharelame(andthat’sanunderstatement).

Theaccident:well,shithappens,occasionally,anditwasafoggynight.It’sthesimplestexplanation.Onefalsemoveandintotheriver.Butthere’snotiretracks,andnoskidmarksanywhereontheriverbanksbetweentheLaniers’homeandLeBouquet.

Foulplay:randomkilling,onChristmasEveat2:00am,inthemiddleofnowhere;unlikely.DidImentionthesepeoplelivedintheboonies?Ifplanned,whocouldcommitsoperfectacrimethatnoonefindsanything?Thatisquiteimpossible.Besides,what’sthemotive?

DidAlainandPaulafightandargueonthewayback?DidPaulatellAlainshewantedadivorce,andhetookhislifeandhiswholefamilywithhim?Isthatthedramahehadforetold?Possible,buttherewouldbesometrace,then,aswithanaccident.AndIdoubtPaulawouldhavepickedDecember24thtomakeherannouncement,smackinthemiddleoftheschoolholidays,withthekids,andthegiftsandfestivitiesandallthatjazz.

Didoneofthemplantokilltheother,andtakethekidstoafarawayland?Isitacrimeofopportunity?Thevanishingactissocomplete,soabsolute,sodefinitive,itismind-boggling,really.

Ifthe"recently"foundbonesdoindeedbelongtooneofthem–AlainChaudier,sincethebonesareofanadultmale–whatofPaula,Frédéric,andCharles?Wherearethey?Aretheystillalivesomewhere?Weretheytakenbywhoeverkilledtheother?Wassomeofitplanned,someofitforcedbycircumstances?Wasitallanaccident,onethatopenedawindowofopportunity?

Myheadisspinning..I’mweavingameshofcrazyscenarios.Goingeverywhichway,yetgettingnowherefast.Damnit!Nothingmakessense.AndthisgalNelliewhocomesinandsays"Whydon’tyoujusttellmewhathappened?"Whatdoesitmattertoher?Isshesomehowrelatedtothefamily?Shewasn’tevenbornyetwhentheeventstookplace.Andwe’rethousandsofmilesandanoceanawayfromLeBouquet.

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Inowfullyappreciatehowenthralledyouwere,whenyou’dgetcomplexcasessuchasthisone.It’slikeamindpuzzle:youthrowalltheoriesupintheair,likechips,andseehowtheyfall.ButIdon’thaveyourskilledmind,mydear.Mypieceslandfacedownontheground.Idon’tknowwhichonetoturnoverfirst.Ineedhelp.Ineed..you.

FancymeetingmeinFrance?Ifyou’reuptoit.Orisitstilltoorisky?

Beamer

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CHAPTER2.OUTOFTHEWOODS

From:EmilyTo:Beamer

Beamer!

Youcouldn’tstopyourselffromdraggingmeintothis,couldyou?Really,Idon’tknowwhichisworse,youcallingmeSunshine(toappeasemyfeelings,Iguess–Oops!Ialmosttypedappallinsteadofappeal)oryouknowingperfectlywellthatIwon’tbeabletoresistthetemptation.

Iwon’teventry,dear.Iwasmadeforthejob.Custom-made.

Sillyme.Naughtyyou.Acoupleofasses,us!

Atleast,youcanmoveyours.

Andtoanswertoyourabsenceofquery:yes,Iamfeelingabitbetter,thankyou.Recoveringo-so-slowly.

Youmaynotbeawareofit(beingasgreenasyouare),buttheChaudiers’caseisabitofasnipehuntinourbusiness.Onceevery7.33yearsonaverage,somethingcomesupandtriggersanewlegofthestory.

OrshouldIsaytheunstory?Asyouputit,researchallledtoacapitalNOTHING.Ifmemoryserves,IhadtheChaudiers’casetostudy,somewherealongmysecondyear(no,Iwon’ttellyouwhatIwasstudyingexactly).Itwaspresentedtousasastorybookcaseoffamilyeradication.Ifoundoutlaterthatitwasevenaregularpartofblankexams.Asnipe,ifIeversawone.

Andguesswhat?Inspiteofthedozenteachersandthehundredstudentswhotriedtosolvethecase,noonehaseverduguponebitofsolidinformation.Noclue,nomobile,notrack,nocorpse,nolatediscovery,nothingatall.

SomeoneinmyclassevencalledittheNull-and-VoidCase,suggestingthattheChaudierfamilyneverexistedinthefirstplace!TheywantedtosendsomeoneonthespotandasktheLanierswhethertheyhadinventedtheirfriendstheChaudiers,toattractattention,perhaps.Fortunately,someoneremindedthesehotheadsthattheChaudiershadbeenreportedmissingbyAlain’sbrotherhimself,whoappearedtobeofsanemindandsoundbody.

Oh,thatsomeonehappenedtobeme,incidentally.Alreadyapainineverybody’sneckbeforeIeventurnedtwenty.

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Andthen,hereyouare,grumpingaboutthisinfamous(orunfamous?)non-determinedcriminalcase,tellingmethataNellieEdelmanncameoutoftheblue,hiredyoutofindout"Whathappened,oratleastasubstantial,plausibleexplanation"ofallthis.Andshe’spayingyouforthat.GreatScott,Beamer!Thisisthefirstthingthatreallyhappensinthirtyyears,andithappenstoyou.Youdon’tmeasuretheextentofyourluck.AndI’mjealousasjealouscanbe,trustmeonthat.

Thereisnobeatingaroundthebush,Hon;theladyknowssomething.Shefatally,definitely,irresistiblyknowssomethingshe’snottellingyou;troubleis,it’snotenoughtosolvethecase,sosheneedssomeonetocompletethepicture..ortosendsomeoneonsomeoneelse’stracks.Thatmeansyouagain,incidentally.

Asyousay,youcouldn’tgetareadonher.Well,shemaynotbebluffing,butI’malreadysureshe’splayingwithyou.Whichisnotcool.(Unlessshesuffersfromfacialparalysis,butthat’sunlikely.Although,onsecondthought,maybeshe’sjustabadactress–Imean,aheavilybotoxedone.Asyouknow,that’samajorhindrancetoshowingemotionsandotherhumanstuff.)

Watchyourback,Beamer!Decoysaremadebytheton,andthereforehighlyexpendable.

(HowmanytimeshaveItoldyouthat?Okay,you’veneverbeenbackstabbedorevenviciouslyassaultedyet.Butonceisenoughtoputyououtoforder.)

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Anightandaslumberlater:

Ididn’tseeitcoming.Ihadtosleep.Sorrytoletyoudown.Hopethingshaven’tgottenworsewhileIdozedoff(understatementfor"visitedHades’dressingroomandgotlostinadarkmazebeforeTheseusshowedupandrescuedmetoLightandOutdoorLife").Anyway,Ihadtore-initializemyselftoreconsidertheChaudiers’story.Neededanewpointofview.Sonow,letmetakeyouremailalongandreactasitgoes.

Beamer,yousayshe(Ms.Edelmann)hasa"fatwallet";isitnotabitstrange?Who,intheirrightmind,stillhaulsaroundwithathickwallet?Ifsheisthatfilthyrich,whydidn’tshepayatranslatortoprovideyouwithdocumentsingoodoldEnglish?Doesshetrustnoone?Orisshesoabsolutelytrustingyou?(Don’twagyourtailonthis.)OrdoessheexpectyoutomisssomedetailswhenyoureadFrenchinthetext(whichisnotyourforte,asIrecall)?

GetoffyourMustang,Sally!1Ms.Edelmannmaybeahottie,butshe’sclearlyoutofyourleague.Meaningshemaynothavechosenyouatrandom.Inwhichcase,she’salreadyholding

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youattheendofhertether.(Whichcomesoutasaninterestingdouble-entendre,onsecondthoughts.)

Nexttimeyouseeher,askherwhyshechoseyou.Andwatchheranswer;trynottolookatherbustline.

Hereisadetailthatsoundsstrange,frommystandpoint:reportssaythatcheckbooksandIDswereallaccountedfor,meaning(Iassume),thattheywerefoundbythepoliceafterthevanishinghadbeenofficiallypronounced.Questionis,howcomenoneofthemhadtheirIDs?InFrance,thecarted’identitéhasbeenmandatoryfordecadesorevencenturies,andyouneedtoproduceitwheneveralawenforcerdemandsit.Granted,theChaudiershadashortwaytogo(noteventwokmasthecrowflies)and,wereitnotforthecoldweather,theycouldhavewalkedthereorevencycled.Buttheyhadtheircar;that’saccountedfor.Orisit?TheLaniersclaimthattheChaudiersdrovetotheirplace,butnooneelseactuallysawthemorthecar.TheLanierscouldhavepickedthemup.Duringwintertime,itisusualtohelpone’sneighbors.Especiallyifyouplanto..mislaythem.

Attwoo’clockinthemorning,onChristmasEve,whatwiththesnow,fog,orblackice,acarefuldriverwillnottakeasmallforestroad;notifhecaresforhisfamily’ssafety.(Didthethreeyear-oldhaveababyseat?Didthatkindofimplementexistatthetime?Iunderstandtheywerenotpopularbeforethe1990’s,butthatdoesn’tpreventsomeonetobecarefulandoutoffashion).HewilltaketheRouteNationaleN141,whichshouldhavebeenclearedawayandmadesafebythepowers-that-be,thereforechancinganencounterwithapolicecheckpoint,andhewouldhavehadhisIDonhim,atleasthis.

Notaveryconclusivethread,I’mafraid.MaybetheyjustneverhadtheirIDsonthem,that’sall.

Now,willyouallowmetomesswithyoualittlebit?Iknowyouwill.Nochoice,pal.

AbouttheDNAsamplesfromthebonesrecoveredinaforest:don’tholdyourbreath.There’sonechanceoutofamillionthatitleadstoanythingconclusive.Andyoucan’taffordtositthereandwaitfortheboffinstoreachconclusions.(Though,maybeshecanaffordit..)

Yousaythecaseisstillopen.Areyousure?WhatisthestatuteoflimitationsforthiskindofcrimeinFrance?Andisitone,indeed?

Bethatasitmay,I’msurprised(andannoyed)thatyoumissedthemainflawinyoursummaryofevents.Theonlyexplanationisthatit’ssoplainandobvious.

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Thelover,dear.Alwayslookoutforthelover.Thisisasbasicaswalking,byputtingonefootinfrontoftheother.

Youmentionhimbrieflyinaparagraph.Sayinghehasarock-solidalibiatthetimeofthedisappearance.Whatdoyoumean?Hehasa10-daylongexcuse(fromDecember24thtoJanuary2nd)?Andafriendlyarmyofwitnesses?Thenyoudismisshimasaratherelegantpersonwhojustsharedpleasanttimewithanunhappylady.Itwasthe1980s,Beamer,notthe1880s!

Youdon’tmentionhisname.Doyouevenknowit?Youdon’tknowwhathasbecomeofhim,aftertheinvestigation.Now,inthirtyyears,hehadallthetimetovanish,changehisnamehalfadozentimes,divorcehisfirstwife,adoptPaula’schildrenunderadifferentname,divorceheraswell,thengoandbuildafarminSouthAfricaoranairportinthemiddleofAustraliaoramineshaftinSiberia,forallweknow.Hemayhaveerasedthreeorfourentirefamiliesandburiedtheminasmanydeserts!

He’syourmainsuspect,forPete’ssake!Youneedharddataonhim,notanicechoiceofwords.

AndhowdoyouknowthatNellieEdelmannisyoungerthanthirty?LookatactressAlisonLohman,forinstance;inRidleyScott’smovieMatchstickMen,sheplayedthepartofafourteen-year-oldwhileshewastwenty-three.EllenPageplayedJuno,sixteen,whenshewastwenty.AndwhataboutMiaFarrowinJosephLosey’sSecretCeremony?DidMissEdelmannshowyouherID?HerFacebookprofile?HerDNA?Hertits?

You,men!

Nowtheaccidenttheorystillholdswater,althoughitneedssomeadjustment.Thereisarecordedcaseofawoman(ridingshotgunwhilethehusbandwasdriving)whothreatenedtothrowherselfoutofthecarifhedidn’tcomplywithwhatevershewantedhimto.Whenshesawthathe’dneverdoit,sheactuallyjumped,maybenotfullyrealizingwhatshewasdoing.At60mphonthehighwayatrushhour..shegotrunoverbyatruck.Thehusbandfounditsohardtobelievewhatshehaddonethathedidn’tbrakeforawholemile.Inotherwords,heleftnotracks.

Onecanperfectlyimaginethefollowing:afteraneveningofpent-uptensions,AlainChaudierthreatensPaulathathewillwreckthecarintheriverifsheinsistsondivorcinghim.Shelaughsathim,orworseremainsindifferent.Annoyed,Alainswervesmenacinglytowardtheriver(whilesmirking).Children,asleepintheback,maywakeup;theydon’tgetthepoint.Blackicesendsthecarskidding,andAlainlosescontrol.Thecarfishtailsthenjumpsoverthebank,dives,breaksthroughtheice,andsinks.Peopledeadinfifteensecondsflat,maybeless.It’stwointhemorning,whichleavessevenhoursofdarknessandcoldbeforesunrise.Watersfreezesolidagain

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abovethesunkencar.Notracks.

Worseyet:keepinmindthatEricChaudiernotifiedthepoliceonJanuary2nd.That’sninedays,Beamer.Ninewhole,dark,cold,empty,desolatedays.Thecarcouldhaveevensunkintothemudandremainedoutofreachfromanylivingcreature.Bodieswillbefoundtenthousandyearsfromnow,mummified,andyourcrimescenewillbeexhibitedinamuseum,labelled«Culturalfamilyburial,endoftheSecondMillennium;thewheelsymbolizestheunityofthefamilyconceptaswellastheroleandpowerofthegenitor;childrenwereattachedbyfabricimplementstoemphasizetheleadershipoftheparents;motherapparentlyhaduntiedherselfbeforethemetalcoffinwasplungedintosacrificialwater;yeah,people,theseweretrulybarbarictimes.»

Abouttherandomkillingtheory:1980sFrancewasnot2010sFrance,obviously,andhardly1980sUSA.Civiliandeathtollsforbothcountriesdifferimmenselyandwerenotonthesamescaleatthetime.TheFrenchhavealwaysbeenmorecivil(civilized?)thantheAmericans(atleastintheirownterritoryandinnon-Napoleonictimes).TheyneverinventednorpromotedanythingclosetotheSecondAmendment.(Maybetheywill,oneday,whengoodoldAnglo-Saxoninsecurity-fueledbogusfearshaveinfestedthemdeeplyenough,butthatwon’thappenbeforeafewmoreyears.)

WhatImeanis,don’tover-interpretthecontext;keepyourreadinggridinfocus.Itwasveryunlikelyforanyonetoeraseanentirefamilyatthebeginningofthe1980s.TheAuriolkillings2,in1981,wereanexception,nottherule.Thewholefamilyofapolicemanwasshotandthebodiesburiedawayinacave.Butitwasaplaincaseofrevenge,linkedtotheServiced’ActionCiviqueunfamousactivities(themurdersoftwojudges,MichelandRenaud,amongotherthings).

AlainChaudierwasabuildingcontractor,which,Iadmit,isprettyclosetogangleader.Butisthatenoughtojustifythewholething?Lookforthewormintheapple.Hadhemadeadealthatturnedsourwitharealcriminalmind?InCognac?Veryunlikely.Thoughyou’llhavetoasksomeoldlocalcopsaboutthis.

Now,Ifeelmorepleasantlytickledbythetheorywhereoneofthemembersofthecoupleplanstokilltheother.Usually,inthiskindofthings,therearetwopossiblescenarios:

–Ifthemandecidestokill,hedoeseverybodyinandthenblastshimselfoutofremorse,orvanishes.Messy,sad,useless..buteasytoreconstructandcomprehend.Althoughmytwopenceaboutthatis:howcomedesperatemenalwaysattacktheirownfleshandblood(whoalreadyarevictimsbyproxy),insteadofattackingtheactualpersonswhodumped,fired,robbed,orwronged

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them?Imean,isitreallyeasiertokillsomeoneyouknowandlovethansomeoneyouloatheanddon’tcareabout?Talkaboutapervertedsituation.Thiskindofthingspeaksvolumesaboutoursociety(sorry:theirs;Idon’tfeelconcerned).

–Whenthewomandoesthekilling(whichisfarlesscommon),shemostoftendoesonlythehusbandin,thenfleeswiththechildren.Waymuchhardertoplan,ofcourse.

Nowyouknowwheretostart.Remember,theonlyfourexistingmotives:passion,greed,revenge,opportunity(anditsartisticversion:randomness).Cognacisnotaregiondevoidofeconomicinterests.Francesellsalcoholforaliving,hasdonesoformillennia,andit’sabloodyhugemarket.WhatifAlainChaudierhadsignedacontractforanewcooperativefacility,involvingmillionsandsomeunscrupulouspeople?Orwhatifhelostajuicycontracttoacompetitor,whomightbehiswife’slover,forallyouknow?

Asyouknow,"therearetwokindsofpeopleintheworld:thosewhohavealoadedgun,andthosewho.."3Well,you’llhavesomediggingtodo.Andyou’reonyourownforthis,Beamer.BecauseIstillhavesomehealingtodo(andnoMarvinGayeathand,Icanassureyou).

Emily

PS:Lastminutebeforesendingmessage:Ihopeyouwillforgivemeformybullyingyou,Beamer.I’msorrybecauseIliedatthebeginningofthis,tobesureyou’dquietlyreadwhateverIhadtosay.Iliedbecause..I’mnotgettinganybetter.TheWoundisnotexactlyhealing,andI’mboundforanotherheavysurgerytomorrowmorning.Whichmeans,there’sathinchanceofusmeetinginFrance.Doctorsays40%failure.Fatalfailure.Weknowwhatthatmeans,don’twe?Soleavemealonefortwodays,Beamer.Youhaveyourjobcutoutforyou,anyway.AndifIdonotreply,it’llmeanyou’reonyourown.Forgood.

Forever.

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CHAPTER3.BUTSERIOUSLY,MATE!

From:BeamerTo:Emily

DarlingPretty,

Thankyousomuchforyourkindwordsofhelpandencouragement.Nothingbutprecious,enlighteningadvice,asalways.Oneshouldfeelsocomfortedandreassuredbyyou.Iespeciallyappreciatethepartwhereyoutellmemycaseisadud.Howveryrefreshing.AndwhatshouldIsayaboutyoupointingoutallthethingsImissed(sosayyou)ordismissed?DoyoureallythinkIamthatdaftandhapless?

Seriously..What’sgottenintoyou?

AreyoupissedoffatthefactthatImayjustgettosolvea30-year-oldriddlenoone–notevenyouofthegreatmind–hasbeenabletosolvesofar?Orisitthefactthat,loandbehold,Imightmakesomeseriousmoneyintheprocess?Orisitsimplythatyouhatebeingcoopedup,unabletodowhatitisthatyoudobest,whichispreciselywhatgotyouwhereyouareatthepresenttime–bothmentallyandphysically?

I’msorry,butIhavenoquickfixforyou.AllIhavetoofferisme,orrathermyrecentcasefindings.Theymayentertainyouenoughfortheday,orinfuriateyouevenfurther.Givenyourcurrentmood,thelatterseemsasafebet.

Inanycase,you’llbedelightedtolearnthatIamnotacompletefool.Ididbothfact-checkingandbackgroundresearch.Beproudofme.Iambringingmethodanddisciplineintomylife.

First,thefacts:thelover,mydear,doesindeedhaveanunbreakablealibi.Asaschoolteacher,hehadatwo-weekholidaybreak.Hespentitathissister’sinLaRochelle.Hiswhereaboutsareaccountedforthewholetime,bysomanypeopleitisunlikelyhe’sthekiller.Unlesshehasmasteredtimetravelandcanbeintwoplacesatthesametime.Toobad–itwouldhavebeensoeasy.ThoughIwillgoandtalktohimonceIgettoFrance.Therearerecordsofhimbeinginterviewed,includingoneinstancewhenhelostitandthrewthejournalistout,yellinghedidn’twanttobebotheredwiththedamnstoryanymore.Whichtome,speaksvolumes.Hemustknowsomething,maybenotwhathappenedtotheChaudiers,buthehassomeknowledge,perhapsesotericorincidental,thatbothershim.Andyes,hedoeshaveaname:DenisLouis.Iknow,twofirstnames.

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Fact:theforestroadtheChaudierstookontheirwaybackistheshortestone.MostpeoplefromtheareafavoritovertheRouteNationale,andifyoulookatthemap,fromtheChaudiers’totheLaniers’it’sanalmoststraightline,ano-brainer,fogornofog.Badweatherisnotadeterrentwhenyouknowaroadlikethebackofyourhand,andtheChaudiers-Laniersget-togetherwasaweeklydrivethey’dbeendoingforyears.

Incidentally,itisinthisveryforestthatthebonefragmentsIwastellingyouabouthavebeenrecovered.IamafraidthereshallbenofurtherDNAtestingonthem.Therefore,thisisadeadend;itcouldbethem,oritcouldbeathousandotherpeople.Theonlyreliablefacthereisthatwe’llneverknowforsure.

Howfunnythateverynewleadthatemergesalwaysendupabust!Asiftosay,there’snosimpleexplanation,pleasethinkoutsidethebox.

Fact:theprescriptionfor"crimesdesang"–Ijustlovethisexpression–bloodcrimesifyouwill,istwentyyears.HowlenientoftheFrench;thereisnostatuteoflimitationsformurderintheUS.Here,youcanneverbeoffthehookfortakingsomeone’slife,butinFrance,iftheydon’tcatchyouwithintwentyyears,youcouldconfesstothecrimeandstillnotbeprosecuted.Ifinditdisturbing.However,remember:thisisnotamurdercase,butamissingpersonone.Soit’sstillanopencase.Fornow.

Andallthat,ofcourse,bringsustolovelyMs.Nellie.Iagreethere’ssomethingslightlyoffwithher.Hermotivesaresketchy.Itbuggedme.Itreallydid,soIwentonlineandpatientlysiftedthroughhundredsofGooglepagesabouttheNellieEdelmannsoftheworld.Edelmannisaverycommonname,I’mtellingyou.OurNellie–fullnameEleonoreSamanthaEdelmann,borninBatonRouge,Louisiana–isaveryprivateperson.Herdigitalfootprintsaremarginal,atbest.Socialnetworks,forums,whathaveyou:she’sshyingawayfromitall.MostofwhatIfoundaboutherisfromoldcachedpages(don’tyoulovethewaybackmachinesite?),commentsonotherpeople’spages,afewlineshereandthere.Whenshewasateenager,shecompetedinlocaltrackandfieldevents,untilshefellandbrokeherankle.EndofherOlympicdreams,ifshehadany,whichIdoubtsinceshenevermanagedasinglepodiumfinish.

See,I’mdigging..

SoisNellie,bytheway.Well,notjustyet,butsoon.ShegraduatedfromLouisianaStateUniversitylastyear–majoredinHistory,specializedinArcheologicalResearch.Maybeshe’lltakemeonasitedig,someday?Justkidding;relax.Ihavenointentionofmixingbusinesswith

18

pleasure.I’lllookbutwon’ttouch,Ipromise.

Soyousee,shedoesn’tjustappearyoung,sheisyoung.Shedoesn’tneedenhancers(notyet,anyway;she’llturntwenty-sixnextNovember,accordingtoLSUyearbook).Anddon’tpoo-poothem,please.YouthinkIdidn’tnoticethatyou’vestarted,shallwesay,"preserving"yourlooks?Itrathersuitsyou,I’dsay.Frownlines,whenyou’reyounger,makesyouintenseandthoughtful,butat"acertainage"they’rejustthat:lines.Youlookbetterwithoutthem.

IfNelliekeepsherprivatelifeveryguarded,sodoestherestofthefamily.Hermom’snameisElizabeth.Herhusband,LowellEdelmann,accidentallydiedfiveyearsagoonafishingtripinNicaragua,leavingherawealthywidow,thankstoaheftyinsurancepolicyandasettlementfromthetouroperator.Amountundisclosed,ofcourse,butenoughforElizabethtobuyahouseinSt.Petersburg,FL,whereshenowliveswithNellie’solderbrother,Patrick.

Thatguy’sawhackjob.He’sspenthalfhislifeinandoutofmentalhospitals.IfoundoutbygoingthroughElizabeth’screditreport.Shehadpastduemedicalbillsthatwentintocollectionaboutsixyearsago,totalingover150K,andhercreditcardbalanceswerequitehighalso,atthetime.Shehassincepaidthemoffandhasn’tbeendelinquentonbillsorcreditcardssincethen.Iguesstheinsurancemoneyhelped.Andthat’sagoodexplanationforNellie’smoney.

Icouldn’tfindmuchaboutthehusband.There’samemorialFacebookpagewherehisoldbuddiespostmessagesfromtimetotimeasifhecouldreadthem.I’llsendyouthelinkifyouwant..Agroupoflike-minded(un-minded?Under-minded?)guysgettingtogetheronthefirstSundayeverymonthforbarbecue,beer,andbadjokes.HowElizabethandthekidsfitinthispicture,Idon’tknowyet,butIplanonaskingNelliewhenIseehertonight,alongwithafewotherquestions.IknowfromElizabeth’screditreportthatthey’vehadatleasteightdifferentaddressesoverthelasttwentyyearsorso,andthatthefamilyhaslivedinFlorida,GeorgiaandLouisiana,whereNelliewasborn.Butthat’saboutit.There’svirtuallynothingbeforethat.

Asiftheyappearedoutofnowhere.

Andlet’snotevenmentionthesketchyemployment.BetweenElizabethandLowell,theyhaveworkedlessthantwelveyearsoutofthelasttwodecades.Howtheyhavemanagedwithoutasteadyincomeisbeyondme.Sois,bytheway,Nellie’sacademicachievementinthemidstofthischaoticlifestyle.LSUisaveryreputableuniversity;youdon’tgetinifyoudon’thavethegrades.Thegirlissmart,forsure.

Allofthisisverynebulous.

Webothagree:aninvisiblethreadtanglesNellieandtheChaudiers,somehow.

19

DidLowellorElizabethknowtheChaudiers?Orsomeonewhoknewthem?

Ifso,isitfromFrance,orfromanotherpartoftheworld?

WhyisNelliesocurious?

Doeshermomknowaboutherinterestinanold,foreigncoldcase?

AssumingIfindhersomeanswers,whatwillshedothen?

Whataboutthelooneytunebrother,what’shisstory?

IsLowell’saccidentaldeathreallyaccidental?

Withoutrevealingtheextentofmypreliminaryfindings,I’lltrytogetsomeanswersoutofher.

Passion,greed,revengeandopportunityarenotmutuallyexclusive.

***

Later:

I’vebeenrunningtheknownfactsaroundinmyhead,overandoveragain.Idouble-checkedeverydocument,printordigital,inthefileNelliegaveme.Youknowwhatstrikesmethemostatthispoint?Thatnoonereportedthemmissingsooner.Orthattheneighborsdidn’tnoticeanythingweird.Icanseeithappeningnowadays,butthirtyyearsago,inFrance,inasmallvillage,Isaynoway.Ifthefamilykepttothemselves,theremustbeareasonwhy.AndI’mgoingtofindoutonceIgettothisplace.

Idon’tbelieveforasecondtheChaudiersalldied.Somethinghappenedforsure,butforsuchantotal,absolutedisappearanceoffourpeople,notracewhatsoever,theremustbeatleastaskeletonofaplan.Maybeitwentawry,maybeitrequiredimprovisationoradaptation,butIsimplyrefutetheout-in-the-bluevanishingoption.

I’lltellyouwhatIthink.IthinkAlainChaudierhadshadydealingswiththewrongkindofpeople,andthattheywereabouttocatchupwithhim.Ibethehadanexitstrategy.Paulahadtoknowaboutit.Shetoowantedout,butinadifferentway.Idon’tknowthatshehadaplaninplaceyet,butIamprettysureshewasthinkingaboutit.Andthensomethinghappened,somethingthatprecipitatedtheevents.Ofcourse,it’sjustahunch.Inacoupleofdays,I’llputmyhunchtothetest.

Idothinkyouletyourcinematicimaginationgetthebetterofyou.You’vedevisedinteresting

20

theorieswithvividendings,butatthisstage,theyarejustthat:worksoffiction,fruitsofyourimagination,andmightIadd,fertilizedbythemind-alteringsubstances,dispensedundersupervision,thatIknowyoureceiveaspartofyourtreatment.ThoughI’llgrantyouthattruthissometimesstrangerthanfictionandthatIdoliketheideaoftheChaudiersbecomingamisguidedandmisunderstoodsymbolofourtimes,forfuture(veryfarfuture)generations.

Inanycase,weshouldlearnwhichoneofusdevisedthebesttheory:I’mcatchingtheredeyetoParistonight,thenofftoCognac,andlettherealinvestigationbegin!Iamdeterminedtogettothebottomofthis!Butfirst,IammeetingNellie.Checkyourphone;I’lltextyouwhatIlearn.

Don’tworryaboutme.Yes,IknowIcouldbesetup,Icouldbeindanger,there’sahiddenagendaandallthatjazz.Iagree.However,whataremyoptions?Dropit?Callherandsayno,sorry,onsecondthought,Idon’twantyourmoney,I’mtooscaredtotakeyourcase?Notachance!Imightbelotsofthings,butIain’tnoquitter.

Beamer,throughthickandthin.

PS1:Oh,andtobeclear,Idon’tbelieveawordaboutyourso-calledpotentiallyfatalsurgery.Ithinkyou’readramaqueen,butplease..YouandIknowperfectlywellthatwhateverailsyouisnotphysicalinnature,andthereforebeyondthescopeofmedicineandsurgery.Unless,ofcourse,you’vefoundagiftedenoughsurgeontooperateontheinvisible.Yourbodyhurts–thatmuchIbelieve–becauseyourmindisonthefritz.Your"wound,"asyoucallit,istheconsequenceofthefractureofyoursoul.Soworktofixthat,andyou’llsoonfeelbetter.ButIbegyou,don’tplaythepoor-me-I-am-so-sick-I-could-diebullshitparttogetmyattention.Ihateitwhenpeopledothat.It’sannoying.Andcomingfromyou,it’snotonlyunexpectedbutunbecoming.Sparemethefakedrama.

PS2:MyFrenchisn’tsobad.Icanreaditfine,andIunderstanditjustfine(Idon’tneedsubtitlestowatchFrenchmovies).I’mjustoutofpracticewhenitcomestospeaking,soIcroaklikeafrog.Thenagain,inthelandofthefroggies..Nah,justkidding.

PS3:Haveyoucheckedyourwebsitelately?Inthe"aboutus"section,someone–whoisnotme!–hadthegeniusideaofmentioningEnglish,French,Spanish,Portuguese,German,andItalianasspokenlanguages.Ihaveasuggestion:let’saddMandarinandRussian,forgoodmeasure.Imean,ifyou’regoingtolie,youmightaswellliebig.

21

***

From:Beamer’sphoneJFK-10:55PMBoardingplanetoFrance.Almostmissedmyflight.MetNellie.Lotstoreport.

Father’sdeathcrushedher.

VERYconcernedbybrother’smentalhealth.Wouldn’tgointodetails.

Fidgetsatthementionofhermother.

GotmadwhenIaskedwhytheymovedaroundsomuch.Wouldn’tanswer.Toldmetomindmyownbusiness.

Saidweweren’therfirstchoicefor"solving"theChaudiercase.Wonderwhoelseshecontacted,ifanyone.

Thegirlisholdingoffinformation.Ionlybelievehalfofwhatshesaid.

Shewouldn’tdiscusshermotivesbutpromisedtotellifIfindsomethingnew.

ShegavemeacontactnametobemyguideandinterpreterinCognac.Howniceofher.

Shealsogavemeanadditional4Konaprepaidcreditcard.SaidtoaskifIneedmore.Howveryniceofher.

Showeduptwentyminuteslatetoappointment.Prettysureshediditonpurpose.Hownaughtyofher.

Hadtoleavetocatchmyflight.Conversation/interrogationcutshort.

She’saweirdcat,andsomething’soffforsure.

Goingtoreadthecaseagainontheplanethensleeponit.

Willchatsoon.

TTYL

22

CHAPTER4.WHAT’SGOTTENINTOME.

From:EmilyTo:Beamer

Beamer,

It’sbeenafullweeknowsinceourlastcommunication.Surgerywentabitworsethanexpected.Ittookmethreewholedaystobeabletofocuswithoutgettingasplittingheadacheintheprocess.Still,theresultisnotverysatisfying,yield-wise:Thankstomyvoice-activatedassistant,Icantypefifteensignsperminute.SecretaryoftheYear,that’sme!

I’mnotsureIreallyshouldthankyoufortryingtodownplaytheseriousnessofmycondition.Itwasrathercute,onsecondthought,andIalmostbelievedyou—untiltheanesthesiologistcameintomyroomat5:45am.

AndyethereIam,alive(butnotkicking),embodiedinmygoodoldself(notreconstructed,tosaytheleast)andmyeyeswillworkagain..afterafewmonthsofproperre-education.Regardingmysenseofhumor,itmaybeawhilebeforeitfliesashighasindaysofyore.

Inparticular,I’dliketoreplytoyourinfamousline:"What’sgottenintoyou?"

Well,asyouwilllearnsoon,whatgotintomewasa.22caliberslug,shotfromadistanceofapproximatelysevenmeters(bywhomisirrelevant,aswellasaprofessionalsecret).Itenteredmyskull32mmabove(andslightlyinfrontof)myleftearandembeddeditself27mmdeep,destroyingbyconcussionandthird-degreeburnafewmillionneuronsandsynapses(notenoughtomakemestupid,thanksAthena4,butenoughtomakemepartiallyblind).Whenhelearnedthis,Dr.Sacks(notrelated,Ithink)5convincedhisbestex-studenttooperateonmeatonce(yourlastreportswerereadtomebymycomputer,withHarrisonFord’schosenvoice,ifyouplease).

Bytheway,I’mperfectlyawareofmylookingbetterwithoutmy"lines"(afraidtosay"wrinkles"?).Fortunately,myhemifacialsurgerydidmiraclesandgotridofthem.Intheirstead,I’vegotakindofirregularblack-purplestarfishonmylefttemple.Notarosetattoo,yousee.

Somuchfor"sparingyouthefakedrama."Ipromisenevertobotheryouagainwithmypettyfemaleailments.Inotherwords,I’llnevercrywolfanymore.Whichmeansthatifyoueverseemecringeorgrindmyteethabittootightly,pleasebekindtoinquirepolitelybutadroitlyaboutmyphysicalstatebeforeshruggingthismightyshrugofyours.Imightwellbeontheedgeofsomethingserious..

23

Thankyou,dear.

So.

You’reinFrancenow,readingthis,andhavebeenforfiveorsixdays.You’vemetjollyNellieagain,aswellasafewwitnesses,Ihope–providedsomeofthemarestilllivingonsite.InFrenchprovince?Verylikely,I’dsay.

Reactingtoyourancientreport,now:

–AbouttheroadtakenbytheChaudierstogobackhome:maybethecoupledroveatrandomtotalkitover,assplittingcouplesusually(anduselessly)do.Childrenweresleepinginthebackofthecar,whiletheirparentstriedtoease(orenhance)theirsufferings,inmildvoices.Insuchacase,whetheritbeagenuineaccidentortheresultofamalevolentmaneuver,thecarislyingatthebottomofsomestreamfarawayfromallthelikelycoursestheyshouldhavefollowed.Chancestofindittodayarevirtuallynil.

–Justadetailabouttheneighborsnotnoticinganythingspecialduringthetwo-weekvacation:Idon’tdeemthisexceptionalorstrange.MaybetheneighborsthoughttheChaudierswereonvacation;that’sall.Ormaybetheneighborswereonvacationthemselves.Thisisnotveryimportant;inconclusive,atbest.

Laissebéton,monp’titpote!6(Frenchpracticetime.)

Iagreewithyou(notabadthingtoimproverelations,sometimes)abouttwentyyearsnotbeingenough.The2011Osloslaughterer7gotthis,whiletheMegauploadwebsiteownergottwenty-two8.Justiceislikeeveryotherhumannotion,grotesquelyrelativeandrelativelygrotesqueatthesametime.What’sratherdisturbingisthatstatuteoflimitationsforrapeisthesameasformurder.Onlymencouldhavethoughtofsomethingthatineptandinadequate.Imean,onecannotrapebynegligenceorself-defense.Anyway..

Idon’tknowwhattosayaboutyourportraitoftheEdelmannfamily.Everythinglookssoperfectlypreparedforaworst-casescenario:arich,beautifulwoman(hermoneyallaccountedforbyaconvenientandlegitimateinsurancecontract);awhackybrothersetuptoblowhislastfuseatanymoment;afatherdeadunderdubiouscircumstances;amothernotinnocentenoughtobeuntrue;eightaddressesintwentyyears;notenoughjobstoaccountfor..allimplyingsecrets.

24

WhatcanIsay?EverythingconcurstoshowthattheEdelmannfamilymightbeafalseone,areconstructedone,relocatedaftersomeHollywood-ishorColdWarlikedrama,whatwiththeFBIblacksuitslurkingbehindthegazebo.

Idon’tknow,Beamer.It’stooobvious.Ofcourse,Iknowforafactthat,afterWWIIandupto1968,DeGaulle’sespionagesuccessivedepartmentsusedtostrikeso-calleddiplomaticdealswithBritishMI5and6(rememberyourhistorylessonsabouttheInverlairLodge,a.k.a.theCooler?)9.ButtheChaudierscasedoesnotfitintothis;Giscardd’EstaingwasfarmoreinterestedinAfricanresources10(especiallythetinyandshinykind)andAlainChaudier’sprofessionwasnotsensitiveenoughtotriggerthiskindofinternationalprocedure.

Unless..unlesshehadcontractedsomebusinessrelatedtonuclearenergy.Bigplant,biggermoney,biggestenemies..Atthebeginningofthe1980s,USAandFranceweretwoofthemostinvolvedcountriesinnuclearpower.Tothisday,99%ofofficialarchivesarestillundersealandwillremainassuchuntilkingdomcome.IsthereanynuclearfacilityaroundCognacthatwasbuiltatthetimeoftheChaudiers’vanishing?Worthdiggingup,I’dsay,littleTuco11.Youmayhavetoputamaskandglovesonbeforeresumingyourchores.AlthoughI’mnotsureyouwillfindanything;theFrenchhavealwaysbeennotoriouslycompetentatforgettingandmakingpeopleforget.

Bemorecarefulwithyour"Idon’tbelieve"statements..ThisattitudegoesagainstthegrainofOccam’sRazor12,theprinciplethatyou’resupposedtorememberatalltimes.You’vebeentrainedtoavoidthatpitfallandtothinksharpandtwiceatalltimes.Trespassingthislinemeansinventing(eventhroughmildennui)falsetheoriestosuityourbeliefs,whicharenotsacrosanct.Isaythereisdangerhere.IsaythisNelliegirlistwistingyourbrains(theupperones,Ihope).Getagriponyourself,Beamer!Thinktwice,thinkbetter,thinkatalltimes,eveninyoursleep,andgroweyesinthebackofyourhead.Havethemtattooedthere,ifyoumust.

ThefactthatwewerenotLittleMiss’sfirstchoicedoesn’tproveanything,ofcourse,butitshowsthatsomethingwentwronginherplan,andsomeonewillhavetoaccountforthat.

Twentyminuteslatetoyourappointment!Butofcourse..Yousay"weirdcat,"butIsay"wildcard."Inwhosehand?

Becare,fool!You’reonyourownforatleastanotherweek.Iwon’tbetheretohelpyou.

ReplytoyourPS3:IalsoaddedArmenian(ancientandmodern),Inuktitut,Latvian,Pashtun

25

andMaori/Moriorito"your"profile.Itlookedsoclumsyasitwas!

Emily

***

ExcerptofphoneconversationbetweenBeamerandHeadNurseP.Ratchett.Beamer:Iamreallyworriedabouther.Shedoesn’tseemtomakeanyprogress..

Nurse:Iunderstandyourconcern,butthisisgoingtobealongrecovery.Youhavetobepatient.

Beamer:Iam,butsheisnotmakingmuchsense..

Nurse:She’shallucinating.It’stheVicodin.Ittakesthepainaway,butalsoherabilitytotellfictionfromreality.Andshe’shavingnightmares.

Beamer:Howlongisthisgoingtolast?

Nurse:Wecan’ttellforsure.Everythingwithheristouchandgo,soonedayatatime,sir.Thesurgery,asyouknow,wasverydelicate,butitwentwell,aswellascanbeexpectedinacaselikethis,butwedon’tknowyet..

Beamer:Don’tknowwhat?

Nurse:Ishouldn’treallysay,but..Well,rightnowwecan’tsayifshe’llmakeafullrecovery.Thoughweareconfidentthattheendresultwillbeaverygoodone.

Beamer:..

Nurse:You’restillhere?

Beamer:Y-yes.

Nurse:Also,she’snotaneasypatient.

Beamer:Somehow,I’mnotsurprised.

Nurse:No,really..Herpainthresholdisquiteimpressive,butherpatienceis..

Beamer:Shehasnone?

Nurse:Exactly.Andwewouldmakefasterprogressifshetoleratedherpredicament.

Beamer:Iamafraid"tolerate"isnotinhervocabulary.

Nurse:SoI’venoticed(sigh).Perhapsyoucouldtalktoher?

26

Beamer:It’snouse.Thewomanhasamindofherown.Abrilliantone,Imightadd,soIimagineshe’sterrifiedattheideathatherabilitiesmightbeimpaired,andtheconfinement—well,thisistakingherfreedomaway.Itdriveshermad,Iknowit.

Nurse:That’sbeyondhercontrolatthispoint.

Beamer:Idon’tknowwhattodo.Herwork–ourwork–isherlife,andIneedherinsight,butIdon’tknowthatIcanrelyonherrightnow,andthere’sthissituationthat..

Nurse:(cuttinghimshort)Sir,sheshouldnotbegivenanycauseforconcernorbeinvolvedinanykindofremotelyupsettingsituation.Areweclearonthat?Weareallowingyoutocommunicatewithheronlybecausesherequested–no,shedemanded–thatweletyou.Butifyoucareforher..

Beamer:Ido.

Nurse:Thenlet’smakesureyou’remoremeasured.Yourlastwordstoherreallyupsether.

Beamer:Ipromise,Iwill,butIcantellyoushe’llseerightthroughme,andshe’snotgoingtolikeit.

Nurse:Isthereanythingatallthiswomanlikes?

Beamer:Pardon?

Nurse:Sorry,sir,Iwasjusttalkingtomyself.Ijustmeantthatthisisnotabout"like"or"don’tlike."Thisisaboutgettingbetter,whateverittakes.

Beamer:Okay.

Endofexcerpt

27

CHAPTER5.AGLIMPSEOFTHEPAST

From:BeamerTo:Emily

DarlingPretty(yes,again),

Doyouhappentoknowthesongthatbearsthisverytitle?BytheNottingHillbillies13,ifmemoryserves.Iknowcountrymusicandbluegrassain’tyoursortathings,butIhadmymusicplayeronshuffle,andoutofthethreethousandorsosongs,itchosethisone,whichmademethinkofyou.Iamnotevensurewhyitwasonit,totellthetruth–thoughIknowverywellhowitgotthere.Inanycase,fortoday,you’remyDarlingPretty.

Idon’tknowhowyouareatthemoment,butIwilltakethenewsofthepurplestarfishdecoratingyourtempleasagoodomen.Starfishareknowntopossessamazingregenerativepowers;someofthemincludetheabilitytoregrowamissinglimb,orevenregrowanentirebodyfromjustalittlepieceofflesh.Andsowillyougobacktoyourformerselfsoon,thornsandall.

Thusdon’tworryaboutitsappearance,andthinkofitasapurpleheartofsorts.AndmayIaddthatIamprettysureyou’llfindawaytoturnitintosomethingstylish?

Asforme,Ihaveindeedspentthelastfewdaysdigging(figurativelyspeaking)onFrenchsoil,withmixedresults.Thered-eyeflightwasindeedasleeplessoneforme.Icouldn’tstopthinkingaboutalltheinformationIhadsofar:sketchy,strange,disconnected,andtoacertainextent,pointinginadirectioneithertooobviousortoofar-fetchedtoberealistic.

IhearyouaboutnotlockingmyselfintoapatternofinvestigationdictatedbywhatIthinkmightbethetruth.Mylittletheoriesarejustthat:theories.Idon’texpectthemtomatchwhatactuallyhappened.SometimesImakethemupjusttoprovemyselfwrongandcomeupwithalternatetheoriesintheprocess.Somewherebetweenthecoldhardfactsandthetrulyfar-fetchedliesthetruth.Mygutfeelingtellsmenottodiscardtheoriesentirely.Iknowthisgoesagainstthedoctrine:justthefacts,ma’am,justthefacts,butIamwhoIam,andthewaymymindworksisthewayitworks.NomatterhowhardItried,Icouldnotchange.

Ihave,however,beenverygoodatsternlystickingtothefacts,applyingamoreorlessby-the-bookapproach.Now,don’tfretaboutthe"moreorless";I’llcometothatinabit.

I’vesettledinaquaintandcleanBed&BreakfastinthecityofCognac.Ican’ttellyouyetifIliketheplaceornot.Ihaven’thadmuchtimetothinkaboutitordoanythingtouristsusuallydo

28

becauseIamnotatourist..thoughIhavesampledafewglassesofthedrinkthatgivesthecityitsname–orisittheotherwayaround?

Iwasgreetedatthetrainstation(ItookatrainfromParistoCognac,andthatinitselfwasalmostaslongascrossingtheAtlantic)bythetranslator/guide/assistantNelliehadrecommendedme.She’salatethirty-something,formerEnglishteacher,currentlystay-at-homemommywithidletimeonherhandswhileherkidsareatschool.HernameisCharlotteSomethingIcan’tpronounce.Sheassistsforeigntravelersasasidejob,tomakealittlesparecash;shetoldmeshe’savailableonlyonweekdays,andonlyfrom10a.m.to5p.m.,afterwhichshehasthekidstotakecareof,butshesaidtocallheranytimeifIranintotrouble.She’snice,andno,toanswerthequestionyouareabouttoaskandshouldn’t:sheisn’tthatkindofnice.Shehelpedmegetacarattherentalplaceandcheckinatthehotel,thoughIcouldhavemanagedallthatonmyown.Weagreedtomeetthefollowingdayandgooverspecifics.

Ihadplannedafewthingsforwhatwasleftoftheday,butImadethemistakeoftryingtoliedownforfiveminutesonthebed,andbeforeyouknowit,Iwassoundasleepandwokeuparoundmidnight,nothavingacluewhereIwasorwhatIwasdoinginthisstrangeroom.Ittookmeawhiletoremember.Imusthavebeenexhausted.AndnowIwasprettymadatmyself.

IdecidedtomakeupforlosttimeandtakeadrivefromSaint-Laurent-de-Cognac(wheretheLaniersusedtoreside),andthroughtheforestroadbacktotheChaudiers’homeinLeBouquet.Toexperiencewhatitwouldfeellikedrivingthroughaforest,onaroadnotthatmuchtraveled,inthedarkofthenight.

Foranewbielikeme,itwasaharrowingexperience.Theroadiswindingandfullofpotholes,andtheblindcornersaremurder–nopunintended–ifyoudon’tknowyourway.Butifyou’refamiliarwiththeroad,astheChaudierswere,Icanseewhyyou’dtakeitratherthandrivingthelongwayaround.It’s4.5kminsteadof5.8kmbyNationale141,and6.6kmbyDépartementale144.Theotherroadsareeasiertodrive—ItooktheD144onthewayback—astheyarelargerandinbettershape,butIdon’tknowhowthey’dcomparebackthirtyyearsago.

Mypointis,everydriverhashispetpeeves.Mineistoavoidfreewaysasmuchaspossible.Isufferfromcargoraphobia(yes,Ijustmadethiswordup),meaningIcannotstandbeingcrowdedbycarsleft,right,front,andbehind.Infact,Ihatebeingcrowdedinanyway,shape,orform.AlainChaudier’spetpeevemighthavebeentochoosetheshortestdrivealways,regardlessofdifficulties.

Somethingelseaboutthisforestdrive:ifyouweretryingtokeepalowprofileonyourcomingsandgoings,thiswouldbeit.Thesameifyouwantedtomakesurenooneisfollowingyou;headlightswouldbeagiveaway.Nowifyouwantedtosetupatrap..Iwon’tgofurther,fornow;

29

you’daccusemeofnotfollowingtherules.I’mjustsayin’..

Imadeanotetogobackthere,butduringtheday.Iwanttogetafeelofhowandwhereonecoulddisappearonthis4.5kmstretchwithoutatrace.

***

OnmyseconddayinCognac,tiredandjet-lagged,ImetupwithCharlie,mytranslator,rightaroundlunchtime.HerrealnameisCharlotte,butshesaidtocallherCharlie.Whynot?ButIliked"Charlotte"better.

Anyway,whatbettersettingthanacustomarytwo-hourlunchàlafrançaisetogetacquainted?IstartedbyaskinghowsheknewNellie–sinceshegotthereferralfromher.

"Idon’t,shesaid.I’venevermetherinperson.ShegotmynameoffaMissingPersonsforum,actually.It’sakindofhobbyforme.Genealogytoo,butthatisanotherstory.Ioffermyservicestotranslatedocumentsoractasinterpreter.Shecontactedme,andshehassentmesomeonebefore."

"Whowasthat?Afriend?Whatwasitfor?"

"Oh,Idon’tthinkhewasafriend.Anacquaintancemaybe?Ididn’task.Itwasaboutayearago.Someguywhojustwantedtodrivearoundthearea,wekindawentallovertheplace,andIwashisguideforafewdays.HewasfromBelgiumIthink,orSwitzerland ̶can’tremember.Hetalkedtoafewpeopleinthevillage.Totellthetruth,Idon’tthinkheknewwhathewaslookingfor,buthey,aslongasIgetpaid..Whydoyouwanttoknow?"

"Noreason.Justcurious.."

Ifeltitbesttoendthislineofquestioningforthetimebeing.Butgivenhalfachance,I’llaskhermoreaboutthisguy,andifheandIare,byanyluck,interestedinthesameplaces.IaskedherifNelliehadmentionedthetypeofassistanceIneeded,andwhyIwashereinCognac.

"Shesaidyouwerehereonaprivateinvestigation(thoseareherexactwords,andtheytriggeredyetanothermusicalmemory,PrivateInvestigations,aDireStraits14oldie).SoIhavetohelpyouwithinterviewsandresearch..Isthatright?"

"Yes,moreorless.IdounderstandFrenchquitewell,andIcanreadalmostfluently,butI’moutofpracticewhenitcomestospeaking."

"Whydon’tyousaysomethinginFrench,andI’llbethejudgeofit?"

Idid,andshelaughed.

"Youdon’tmouthyourwords.That’sthetricktospeakingFrench;youEnglish-speakers,you

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munchyourwords,whilewespitthemout.Rememberthat,whenyouspeak,ifyouwantpeopletounderstandyou."

"Dulynoted.Thenagain,Ihaveyou.."

"Right.Sowheredowestart?"

Igaveheraquickrun-downofthepurposeofmytrip.Shedidnotseemsurprised,soIimagineNelliehadgivenhertheheads-up.ItoldherI’dliketoconsultthelocalnewspapersarchives–Nelliemightbemissingsome–,havealookatthepolicefiles,andinterviewafewpeoplewhoknewtheChaudiers:friends(theLaniers),family,andofcourse,theloverDenisLouis.HeusedtoliveinJavrezacandisnowretiredinVillars-les-Bois,aboutathirty-minutedrivefromCognac.

Shewasdubitativeaboutgettingaccesstothepolicefiles.Evenafterthirtyyears.

"Isitnotpublicdomain?"

"No,"shereplied."Onaclosedcase,youcouldmakeaformalrequest,butI’mnotsurethisoneis.."

"There’sbeennosignoflifeforoverthirtyyears!"

"Justthesame,nobodyhasbeenrecovered,anditisstillanopeninvestigation–theoreticallyspeaking.

"Right..sowhatdoIdo?"

"Well,wecanalwaysgoandask.Youneverknow.Maybethereisaprocedure,butifthat’sthecase,I’mafraiditmightbealengthynone.AnythinginvolvingredtapeinFrancetakesforever,youknow.."

"Whatabouttalkingtopeople?Canyouhelpmemeetthem?I’llneedyoutoaskquestionsforme."

"Yeah,sure,I’lldomybest.Whendowestart?"

"Howaboutnow?Thenewspaperarchives,howeasywouldthatbe?"

"Fairlyeasy.."

"Okay,then,thenewspapersitis."

WewenttotheCognacofficeofCharente-Libre,themainnewspaperforthetown,whichbelongstoalargermediagroupcalledSud-Ouest(thearticlesNelliegavemewerefromSud-Ouest).Ihadtoendurearoundofobtusequestionsfromthefrontofficegirl,who,Iamsure,

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wouldnothaveaskedsomanyquestionsifIhadbeentheaverageFrenchJoeorMarcel,butanAmericanguywalkingintoinquireaboutathirty-year-oldmysteryisbignewstohersocialmediauniverse.IpracticallyhadtopryherphoneoffherhandstostopherfromfloodingherTLandFacebookwithnewsofmyvisit.I’mluckyIavoidedbecomingaTrendingTopic,Itellyou!

Anyway,shefinallyledustothearchivesroom.Unfortunately,nearlyallarticlesrelatedtothecaseareonmicrofilms–budgetshortage,nodigitizedoldissuessaveforthefewarticlesthathavebeenre-publishedonline.Charliesoonhadtoleavetogetherkids,andIwasleftbymyselfinthisbigroomfeelingSOLattheprospectofsiftingthroughboxesandboxesofmicrofilm,whenthereceptionistcame–Ishouldsaystormedin–wavingapieceofpaperandshoutingwithadreadfulFrenchaccent"Ihavethelist!Ihavethelist"withtheenthusiasmofacheerleadershakinghernewpom-poms.ShehandedmealistofallthereferencesmadetotheChaudierscase,byarchivedateandpagenumber!Canyoubelieveit?Iwonderedwhyshehadsuchalisthandy,andshetoldmesomeoneremindedherthataboutthreeorfouryearsago,ajournalistcameintodotheexactsameresearch,andthatthelisthadbeenkeptbyaco-workerwhojusttoldher,etc.

Somehow,Ipicturehercallingeverybodyatthenewspaperwitha"Guesswhat?"storyaboutme.Jeez..ButIcan’tcomplain,thegirlsavedmetimeandamajorheadache.ImadeamentalnotetosendheraboxofchocolateandaThankyoucard.DotheFrenchdothis?Don’tthinkso.GottaaskCharlotteforpointersonFrenchetiquette.

Imadecopiesofallpagesthathadsomethingaboutthecase.IrecognizedtheonesfromNellie’sfiles,andquiteafewotherones,buttheyaremorelikeone-twoparagraphshereandthere.Then,asnow,publicinterestoveranythingonlylasteduntilthenextcase,thenextscandal,thenextcrime..

DoyourememberhowItoldyouaboutthewife’sloverlosingitatsomepointwithjournalistshoundinghim?Well,there’sareasonforthat.Thepolicethoughthewasholdingbacksomethingimportant,buttheyhadnothingconsistent.Theyruledhimoutasasuspectbecausehehadarock-solidalibi,visitinghissisterinLaRochelle,andhewasaccountedforatalltimes,especiallyonthenighttheChaudiersdisappeared.TherewasabigChristmaspartyatthesister’shouse,dozensofpeople,lastedwellintotheweehoursofthemorning.Butagain,hewasunderintensescrutinyforquiteawhile.Iguessthisleakedfromthepolicetothepress,atwhichpointallhellbrokeloose,somuchsothatDenisLouisendeduptakingalongmedicalleavebeforereturningtohisteachingpositionattheJavrezacschool.ItrackedhimdownonFacebookandtookapeekathispage(yes,it’sprivate;no,don’taskmehowIdidit).

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He’sretirednowandlivesinacrappyseniorresidence;nevermarried,noknownkidsand,judgingbythetoneofhisFacebookpostings,he’sprettyboredwithhislife.Nowonder,allhisFacebookfriendsappeartobeatvariousstagesofmummification.I’mconfidentIcanentertainhimenoughtotellmeacoupleofthings.Ormore.Solitudeisaslowkiller;old,lonelyfolksfearit.Givethemsomeattention,andthey’llneverstoptalking.That’swhatI’mcountingon.Myotheroptionistokidnaphimandtorturehimuntilhecoughsupwhatheknows.

ThepolicedidlookextensivelyatAlainChaudier’sbusinessactivities.Notmuchaboutthatinthenewspaperreports,afewbylineshereandthere,hintsthathisbusinesswasintrouble.Hearsay,thatIgleanedlater,incommentsonanonlinearticlefromCharente-Libre,aboutsevenyearsold,fromscurryingmyfavoritego-togoldmineforallshit–sorry,information:thewebarchivesrepositorysites.Whentheysaynothingeverdiesinthevirtualworld..that’snotafigureofspeech.

Anyway,followingoneofyourstatistical7.33yearsresurgencesoftheChaudiercase,itwouldappearthattonguesloosenupandfingersdothetalkingontheWeb,dishingoutthegoods(orisitthebad?)onthelocalJuneCleaverfamily.Anonymously,ofcourse,hidingbehindcrypticorplainidioticnicknames.Readingahundred+comments–someofftopic,somedownrightnasty,andalotoftheminsuchapproximateFrenchgrammarthatIfeltallofasuddenprettydarngoodaboutmyownlanguageskills,wasnothingshortofamindlessbore–butitpaidoff.

Therumormillspinshalf-truthsandhalf-liesindiscriminatelybutdoesagoodjobofrevealingshamefulorunsavoryfacts.Asitturnsout,Alain’sbusinesswasonshakyground(howironic,forabuildingcontractor).Hewasstretchedprettythinfinancially,waslateonpayments,lateonjobdelivery,lateontaxes..caughtinafinancialstranglehold,withnoreliefinsight.Yet,thisdidnotimpairthefamilylifestyle:personalbillswerepaid,loansandmortgagewereuptodate,appearanceswerekeptup.

Somethingheredoesnotcompute,don’tyouthink?I’msurethere’smoretoit,butithasn’tbeenmadepublic.I’llknowmoreonceIgetmyhandsonthepolicefiles.BecauseyouknowIwillgetthem,onewayoranother.Thatismy"moreorless"part.I’mdigging,slowly.Don’tfret,littleStarfish..I’llbecareful,moreorless.

Nightynight,littlebirdie.

YoursTuco-truly,

Beamer

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***

From:Beamer’sphoneNextday,8:00AMDamnit.Carvandalizedovernight.Needtogetanewone.Havetofilepolicereport.Gonnawasteafullday.Backtoyou

withlatestASAP.

WHATHAPPENSNEXT?*********

FollowEmilyandBeamerintheirquestforthetruthandfindout!

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NOTES

1-Areferenceto"MustangSallyandGTO"songbyJohnnyLeeHooker,nottobeconfusedwithMarkRice's"MustangSally"song.Emilyis,amongotherthings,amusicbuff.

2-AreferencetothemurderofFrenchdetectiveJacquesMassie,andhisfamily,inAuriol.NewYorkTimesarchiveslink.

3-AreferencetoaquotefromthemovieTheGood,theBad,andtheUgly:"Youseeinthisworldthere'stwokindsofpeople,myfriend:thosewithloadedguns,andthosewhodig.Youdig."YouTubeclip

4-Athena,GreekGoddessofWisdom.

5-AreferencetoDr.OliverSacks,neurologistandauthorofthebook"Awakenings".Wikipedialink.

6-Frenchslang.Looselytranslatesto"dropit,dude!"

7-Areferencetoa2011far-rightterroristattackinOslo,Norwaythatresultedinthedeathof77people.

8-AreferencetoKimDotCom'strial.Wikipedialink.

9-PartoftheinspirationforTheVillageinThePrisonertvseries,andasafehavenforsecretagentsduringWWII.

10-AreferencetothescandalinvolvingdictatorBokassaandFrenchPresidentGiscardd'Estaing.Wikipedialink.

11-AreferencetoaquotefromthemovieTheGood,theBad,andtheUgly:"Youseeinthisworldthere'stwokindsofpeople,myfriend:thosewithloadedguns,andthosewhodig.Youdig."YouTubeclip

12-Aprinciplefromphilosophysometimescalledlexparsimoniaeor"thelawofbriefness".Wikipedialink.

13-CountryRockband,1986-2002.Wikipedialink.

14-Rockband,1977-1995.Wikipedialink.

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ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

AlfredBoudryAlfredBoudryexplorestheintersticesofHumanhistory,fillingthemwithcrediblestoriesand

humansclamoringofTruthfulness;atleast,theirown.Heisapublishedwriter(inFrench)andtranslator(toandfromEnglish)ofseveralbooks.Hemaintainsablog(inFrench)calledLeBazarImpertinent.AlfredBoudry'sbookscanbefoundhere.

JulieMornelli:TheMundaneMe:

IleftFrance,mynativecountry,inmytwentiesandneverlookedback.Ifeelathomeinforeignlands.Englishismyfirstlanguage,bychoiceifnotbybirth.Catshavebeenmyconstantcompanionssincemyteenageyears,andIcannotimaginelifewithoutthem.

TheWriterMe:Myloveofwordsstartedinmychildhoodyears.Mygrandmotherwasanavidreaderandagreatstoryteller.Together,we'dspendhoursreadingbooks,magazine,newspapers-anything-discussingplotsandcharactersendlessly,tellingeachotherimaginarytalesorrecountingreallifeevents,bigandsmall.Thiscreatedauniquebondbetweenthetwoofus.ThestoriesItellaresimplythenaturalextensionofthisbond.

TheProfessionalMe:Youcantellstorieswithwords,butyoucanalsotellthemwithimages.IstudiedGraphicDesignandVisualCommunicationatUCLAandstartedmyownfreelancedesignstudioaftergraduation.Iamcurrentlydevelopingmultiplatformstorytellingprojects.

TheDigitalMe:Pleasevisitmywebsitejuliemornelli.comwhereyoucanfindmyotherbooks,readsamplechapters,stories,andmore.

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